New Delhi: Close on the heels of an Indo-US agreement for cooperation in the strategic sector, a high-level American defence business delegation today (Feb 4, 2004) said Washington was ready to meet India's requirements in hi-tech weapons and anti-missile weapon systems.

"We are here to translate to Indians that US is a long-term reliable defence partner and to take forward President (George) Bush's commitment to expand ties in missile defence, peaceful nuclear energy, space and high technology weaponry," Lt Gen Daniel W Christman, leader of the 15-member American defence business delegation, said.

The delegation, which had a meeting with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chief VK Atre, said India had sought US sensor technology including means to exploit photo and radar imagery and developing electro-optical sensors.

Over the next two days, the delegation, which has come to represent US armament majors at the Defence Expo 2004, would have meetings with Defence Minister George Fernandes, three Service Chiefs - Admiral Madhvendra Singh, Gen N C Vij, Air Chief Marshal S Krishnaswamy, and top ministry officials.

"We have come to New Delhi as part of an ongoing process by US private industry, in coordination with our own Government and with our private and public sector counterparts in India to build a robust pattern of commercial defence cooperation," Gen Christman said.

Asked about the difference between the Patriot missile and the Israeli Arrow missile, the US delegation leader said while Arrow was a hit-to-kill missile, the Patriot was a close proximity interceptor missile.